RVIA Economic Impact Study

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association commissioned an Economic Impact Study on the RV industry, released on June 7, 2016. The study found that the RV industry contributes about $49.7 billion in economic output or 0.28 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Through its production and distribution linkages, the industry impacts firms in 426 of the 440 sectors of the United States economy.

Nationwide, the industry is responsible for 216,170 jobs, both directly and inderectly, creating an economic impact of $37.5 billion. The full study results, along with each individual state and congressional district's economic impact is available on the website by clicking here .

SylvanSport Helps Establish Outdoor Recreation Recruitment Director

Thu Jun 29, 2017

Brevard, North Carolina - From the Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina has long been a destination for outdoor adventure and businesses alike. As a $19.2 billion industry, outdoor recreation provides 192,000 jobs in North Carolina and is steadily growing.

Recognizing the importance of the outdoor industry to the state’s economy, SylvanSport President Tom Dempsey and several other industry leaders have led the drive to establish a new state level position to promote North Carolina and assist in bringing new businesses to the state.

The new Outdoor Recreation Recruitment Director is modeled from similar positions in Utah, Colorado and Washington, with Dempsey believing that North Carolina could be the leader in outdoor-based economy in the East. Through a collaborative effort of outdoor gear manufacturers throughout the state, a proposal was submitted to the North Carolina State Legislature in Raleigh.

“Growing the outdoor recreation economy in North Carolina has been a passion of mine for 20 years,” Dempsey says. "North Carolina is truly a leader in this space, and it is gratifying to see our state’s leadership in this regard. Many thanks to the other industry leaders and to Senator Rick Gunn of Alamance County for joining me in making this happen.”

Ross Saldarini, President of Mountain Khakis, VF Corporation in Greensboro, and the Outdoor Gear Builders of Western North Carolina, a coalition of outdoor gear manufacturers in the western half of the state, were among many outdoor businesses in North Carolina that joined forces to make this new position a reality.

“This was truly a team effort,” Saldarini says. "We are thrilled to see the hard work pay off, and now we start on the next phase of the campaign, to get more outdoor businesses here in North Carolina and to grow the massive outdoor recreation economy.”

The Outdoor Recreation Recruitment Director is included in the 2018-19 budget as introduced by the North Carolina legislatures on Monday, June 19.

“A lot of credit goes to the outdoor industry leaders in North Carolina for their tireless and unwavering drive to get this position established and funded,” Outdoor Industry Association Vice President of Government Affairs Alex Boian says. "We hope to see others build on their example.”